• It is the best-known constellation, which is mentioned in poetry as early as the Odyssey and in the Biblical accounts of Job.
  • In Amos 5:8, "Him that made Kimah (Pleiades) and Kesil (Orion)."
  • Richard H. Allen comments: ... we find in the various versions of the Book of Job and Amos the word Orion for the original Hebrew word Kesil, literally signifying "Foolish," "Impious," "Inconstant," or "Self-confident."    This perhaps is etymologically connected with Kislev, the name for the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, the tempestuous November-December.    Julius Furst considered this Kislev an early title for Orion.    The epithet "Inconstant" has fancifully been referred to the storms usual at his rising.
        The Kesilim of Isaiah xiii, 10, rendered "constellations" in some versions, is also thought to refer to it and other prominent sky figures; in fact, Cheyne translates the word as "the Orions" in the Polychrome Bible; while Rahab, in the Revised Version of the Book of Job, ix, 13, — the "proud helpers" in the Authorized, — is referred by Ewald, Renan, and others to this, — possibly to some other group of stars, — with the same significations as those of Kesil, or perhaps "Arrogance," "Rebellion," "Strength," or "Violence."
  
  
• The name "Orion" is believed to have originated in the Euphrates area of ancient Akkad, and is derived from the Akkadian solar deity Uru-anna, meaning "Light of Heaven."    This provides a connection to Anu.    Over time, the language corrupted to "Aryan," which is what the ancient Persians called themselves, and which became the modern idiom, "Iran."
  • Richard H. Allen comments: The derivation of the word has been in doubt, but Brown refers it to the Akkadian Uru-anna [This divinity was the later Chaldaeo-Assyrian sun-god Dumuzi, the Son of Life, or Tammuz, widely known in classical times as Adonis.    Aries also represented him in the sky], the Light of Heaven, originally applied to the sun, as Uru-ki, the Light of Earth, was to the moon; so that our title may have come into Greek mythology and astronomy from the Euphrates.    The Ourion, Ouron, or Urion, of the Hyriean, or Byrsaean, story, the Urion of the original Alfonsine Tables, graphically explained by Minsheu, is in no sense an acceptable title, although Hyginus and Ovid vouched for it, thus showing its currency in their day.    Caesius' derivation from Ora, as if marking the Seasons, seems fanciful.
  
  
• Other sources claim that Orion represents the Akkadian god Duwu-zi (Tammuz), identical to the Sumerian deity Nin-girsu, "Lord of the Riverbank," the river is the Milky Way or Eridanus.
  
  
• One of Anu's daughters was Gulu the ancient name for the Earth Mother goddess, who was a consort of Ninurta (derived from Ningursu, was the son of Enlil and the god of war, wind, hoe, who in Sumer and Akkad was the god of the constellation known as Orion).   
  • Ningursu was a god of irrigation and fecundity, born of a she-goat, and god of the Sumerian city-state of Lagash.    He was as tall as the sky with a god's head and beard, holding an eagle and a club with a net of human captives, and hurricanes for feet.    A pair of lions flanked him.    He appeared to Gudea to build him a temple at Lagash.
  
  
• Orion.
  • One Babylonian cuneiform tablet calls Orion "The-Shepherd-Spirit-of-Heaven," which is also used for Bootes.
  • Babylonian Ri-u-but-same, is Orion, "The shepherd."
  • Hebrew Keçiyl, kes-eel', the same as Heb. keçiyl, kes-eel', from Heb. kaçal, kaw-sal', a primary root properly to be fat, i.e. (fig.) stupid or silly, fool (-ish) thus any notable constellation, specially Orion (as if a burly one), constellation, Orion, and can also represent the place in Palestine, Kesil, or Chesil.
    • Some sources claim that the Hebrew word Chesil, means "A Strong One" or "A Hero."    Pictured as a mighty hunter, a club raised in his right hand, and in his left hand he holds the skin of a lion, which he has slain and uses it as a shield.    Orion faces the constellation Taurus, the Bull, and seems to be warding off the bull's attack.
      • In "The Witness of the Stars," by E.W. Bullinger, page 125 "Job 9:9, 38:31 and Amos 5:8 (Hebrew Chesil), which means a strong one, a hero, or giant."
  • One source claims that the Hebrew Oarion, means "Coming Forth as Light," also "He Who Cometh Forth as Light," "The Glorius One," "The Brilliant," and "The Swift."
    • In the "Gospel of the Stars," by Joseph Seiss, page 105 "Orion was anciently spelt Oarion, from the Hebrew root which means light.    So that Orion means coming forth as light."
      • Richard H. Allen comments: With Theban Greeks of Corinna's time, about the year 490 before our era, it was Oarion, the initial letter having taken the place of the ancient digamma, which, pronounced somewhat like the letter W, rendered the early word akin to our Warrior.    Corinna's pupil Pindar followed in Oarioneios, but by the time of Euripides the present Orion prevailed, and we see it thus in Polymestor's words in the Ekabe (Hecuba) of 425 B.C.:
            Catullus transcribed Oarion from Pindar, shortened to Arion, and sometimes changed to Aorion; but the much later Argion, attributed to Firmicus, was for Procyon, probably from Argos, the faithful dog of Ulixes.
  
  
• Egyptian/Coptic:
  • In Egypt, Orion was figured both as Osiris and Horus and it is said to mean "Coming Prince."    These stars were the resting place of the soul of Osiris.
  • On the Denderah Zodiac below the hind feet of Taurus, Orion is seen as a male figure wearing the white crown of Egypt.    In his right hand is a flail, which is over his right shoulder.    In his left hand he is holding a very large Egyptian waas scepter.
  • Some sources claim he (Orion) is known as Ha-ga-t, which means this is He who triumphs.
    • In "The Witness of the Stars," by E.W. Bullinger, page 125 "He (Orion) is so pictured in the ancient Denderah Zodiac, where we see a man coming forth pointing to three bright stars (Rigel, Bellatrix, and Betelguez) as his.    His name is given as Ha-ga-t, which means this is he who triumphs.    The hieroglyphic characters below read Oar.    Orion was anciently spelt Oarion, from the Hebrew root, which means light.    So that Orion means coming forth as light.    The ancient Akkadian for Orion was Ur-ana, the light of heaven."
  • Note that some say he (Orion) has an injury to his leg.    It may be that the figure, which could be Monoceros by his hind foot, is the Egyptian Ba-Bird, Jabiru, Sumerian Habur, and Egyptian Sahu.
    • In his work “BABYLONIAN STAR-LORE: An Illustrated Guide to the Star-lore and Constellations of Ancient Babylonia,” by Gavin White in his exerts claims, "The Egyptian figure corresponding to Orion is called Sah, the ‘Fleet-footed’ or ‘Long-strider,’ presumably because he is portrayed in a walking posture.    He is first depicted in Egyptian astronomic documents dating to the last centuries of the 3^rd millennium.    On the Dendera Zodiac a crested bird can be seen walking behind him.    The Babylonian version of Orion is called the True Shepherd of Anu.    Although no depictions are known, it is likely that he was portrayed as the messenger to the gods known as Ninšubur or Papšukkal.    Star names indicate that he was posed as if walking with one foot and hand extended before him.    His symbol of office was a long staff and on entitlement stones he was frequently represented by the figure of a crested walking bird.    On the Babylonian star-map this bird is characterized as the Rooster, which is located below and behind the figure of the True Shepherd.    That the figure of Orion should be envisioned in the form of a walking man is no particular surprise given the configuration of stars, but the common association with a walking bird with a crest on its head must surely point to an inherited influence."
          White's image of Orion seen on page 42 shown here     compared to the round Denderah Zodiac version        and the Square version .
  
  
• In Greek Mythology Orion was a mighty or giant hunter the son of the god Poseidon [Middle English, Orioun, from Latin Orion, from Greek], pursuer of the Pleiades, and lover of Greek Eos (Roman Aurora, goddess of the dawn).    The story associates Orion with Artemis and Apollo.
  • Hunt, Hunter.
    • Sumerian tag: to hold, handle, touch; to weave; to decorate, adorn; to strike, hit, push; to start a fire; to fish, hunt, catch (can be reduplicated).
      • Sumerian tag₄: (cf., taka₄).
    • Hebrew tsuwd, tsood, a primary root to lie alongside (i.e. in wait), by implication to catch an animal (fig. men), (denom. from Heb. tsayid, tsah'-yid, the chase), also game, lunch, hunter, hunting.
      • Hebrew tsayad, tsah'-yawd, a huntsman, thus to victual (for a journey), chase, hunt, sore, take (provision).
    • Hebrew radaph, raw-daf', a primary root to run after (hostile intent), chase, hunt, pursue.
  
  
• Ancient Arabs knew the constellation of Orion as Al Jauzah and later Al Jabbar, meaning "the giant" or "great."
  • Richard H. Allen comments: In early Arabia Orion was Al Jauzah, a word also used for stars in Gemini, and much, but not very satisfactorily, discussed as to its derivation and meaning in its stellar connection.    It is often translated Giant, but erroneously, for it, at first, had no personal signification.    Originally it was the term used for a black sheep with a white spot on the middle of the body, and thus may have become the designation for the middle figure of the heavens, which from its preeminent brilliancy always has been a centre of attraction.    Some think that the Belt stars, delta, epsilon, zeta, known to the Arabs as the Golden Nuts, first bore the name Jauzah, either from another meaning of that word, — Walnut, — or because they lay in the centre of the splendid quadrangle formed by alpha, beta, gamma, and kappa; or from their position on the equator, the great central circle; the title subsequently passing to the whole figure.
  • Hyde quoted from an Arabian astronomer, Al Babadur said the constellation was originally called the "Strong One," as a popular term for the constellation.
  • Sugia and Asugia were thought by Scaliger, affirmed the name was a corruption of the Arabic Al Shuja, "The Snake," applied to Orion in the sense of Audax, Bellator and Bellatrix, Fortis and Fortissimus, Furiosus and Sublimatus, and all proper names for it in the early astronomical works of Bayer and Chilmead, that word was translated as Asugia, "The Madman."
  
  
• Another spelling is the Arabic Al-gebbar,"the giant."
  
  
• Syrian name from the "Peshitta" Bible is Gabbara.
  
  • Allen states: The Syrians knew it as Gabbara; the Arabians, as Al Jabbar, both signifying "the Giant", gigas; with Ptolemy, — and in Latin days occasionally Gigas; the Arabian word gradually being turned into Algebra, Algebaro, and, especially in poetry, Algebar, which Chilmead gave as Algibbar.
  
  
• Other names for Orion: Al Babador (Arabic modern), Asu'gia, Elgeuze', Geuze, Geuzaz'guar, Jeuze', Al Ha'gue (Moorish), Al Jab'bar, Al Jau'zah (early Arab), Al Kunam, Rag'ulon, Al Shuja', Sugia', Egyptian Sahu.
  • In mediaeval as well as in later astronomy, the original appears in degenerate forms, such as Elgeuze, Geuze, Jeuze, and the Geuzazguar of Grotius.
  • Arabic Al Giauza, the Branch, Al Mirzam, the Ruler, Al Nagjed, the Prince.
    • In "The Witness of the Stars," by E.W. Bullinger, page 127 "Other (Arabic) names ... Al Giauza, the branch; Al Gebor, the mighty; Al Mirzam, the ruler; Al Nagjed, the prince; Niphla (Chaldee), the mighty, Nux (Hebrew), the strong."
      • Niphla, attributed to Chaldaea, has not been confirmed by modern scholars.
  • Fakar al Jau'zah is Orion's belt, one claim that Fakar al Jauzah, means the Vertebrae in the Jauzah's back.
  • Al Dhana'ib, the small stars of Orion.
  • a, b, and g stars of Orion are called Al Najid the belt.
  • Al Nasak, the Line; Al Alkat, the Golden Grains, Nuts, or Spangles; Niebuhr cited the modern Arabic Al Mizan al H'akk, the Accurate Scale-beam, so distinguishing them from the curved line of the fainter c, theta, iota, d, and kappa, Al Mizan al Batil, the False Scale-beam.
  • The Rabbi Isaac Israel said that it was the Mazzaroth, Mazzaloth, or Mazlatha that most of his nation applied to the zodiac.

    The following is more on the Shepherd relationship of Orion as may be seen in similar information about the Sumerian LI.DUR SIPA.ZI.AN.NA.    Also see the Sumerian City of Larag (Larak) for a connection with the Sumerian name Ensipadzidana and a connection with the Bootes constellation.

    Sumerian LI.DUR SIPA.ZI.AN.NA, "The Navel of the True Shepherd of Anu," which reads as (li, ?/ lí, true measure + dur, umbilical cord + sipa, shepherd + zi, breath, to undress + an-na, god of heaven), this does not translate well.

• One source claims this is probably the star a Betelgeuse, from the French Betelgeuse, probably from the Arabic bayt al-jauza for "house of the twins," in Orionis, seen as bayt, Arabic "house," and jauza, Arabic for "twins."
  • House.
    • Hebrew bayith, bah'-yith, probably from Heb. banah, baw-naw', a primary root to build, abbreviated, a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.).
      • Hebrew Beyth-'El, bayth-ale', from Heb. bayith and Heb. 'el, ale, thus house of God, Beth-El, a place in Palestine, Bethel.
  • Twins.
    • Under Gemini constellation names we find the:
      • Sumerian tab, "companion, pair, double. "
      • Akkadian tu'amu, "twins."
      • Babylonian-Assyrian Tuame, "twins."
      • Hebrew Thaumin, "The United," and the Arabic Al Tauman, "The United," as related to the Hebrew word below:
        • Hebrew ta'owm, taw-ome', or ta'om, from Heb. ta'am, taw-am', a primary root to be complete as denom. to be twinned, i.e. (fig.) duplicate or (arch.) jointed, coupled (together), bear twins, thus a twin (in plural only), lit. or fig., twins.
• Sumerian lí: true measure; fine oil.
  • Sumerian ku-li: friend; a capacity measure ('solid base' + 'true measure').
  • Sumerian nanam: n., true measure (na₄, 'token, counter', + nam, 'destiny'); adj., reliable, true; honest, decent.
  • True.
    • Hebrew tseda' (Chald.), tsed-aw', from an unused root the Heb. tsadah, tsaw-daw', a primary root to chase, by implication to desolate, destroy, hunt, lie in wait, thus in the sense of intentness, a (sinister) design, true.
    • Sumerian gín: hatchet, axe; shekel (of silver) (Akk. kînu 'true measure').
• Sumerian dur: bond; string, thread; strap, tie; amulet chain, necklace; umbilical cord.
  • Sumerian dúr: (cf., duruna).
    • Sumerian duruna, durun, dúru, dúr: n., buttocks; dwelling; v. plural, to sit; to be seated; to break wind; to dry out; to occupy, dwell; to set down (plural, cf., singular tuš) (dur, 'bond', + ùga/un, 'people').
  • Sumerian ^anšedùr^(ùr): he-ass; donkey foal.
  • Sumerian dur₅: (cf., duru₅).
  • Sumerian urah, dàra, dàr: mountain goat buck; ibex (dur, 'bond, tie', + áhi, 'arm').
  • Sumerian dára, dár: n., belt, sash (compare dur, 'bond, tie'); v., to bind, pack.
• Sumerian sipad, sibad, sipa; šuba; sub_2,3: n., shepherd; keeper; v., to pasture, tend (si, 'to keep in order', + bad, 'to let out', or pàd, 'to find').
  • Sumerian sipad-ama-[ŠA.]GAN: shepherd of mother animals ('shepherd' + 'mother' + 'to bring forth').
  • Sumerian sipad-amar-ru-ga: shepherd of brought back (?) ('shepherd' + 'young ones' + rúg, 'to restore' + genitive).
  • Sumerian sipad-udu-siki-ka: shepherd of wool sheep ('shepherd' + 'sheep' + 'wool' + double genitive).
  • Sumerian SUD-la: a quality of the ground ('shepherd' + 'sheep' + 'wool' + double genitive).
  • Sumerian mùnsub: shepherd.
  • Sumerian PA+USAN: a shepherd.
  • Sumerian gába[KAB]-ra: shepherd boy/girl.
  • Sumerian kabar: shepherd boy (ká, 'gate', + bar, 'to open').
• Sumerian zi: breathing; breath (of life); throat; soul (cf., zid, zìg).
  • Sumerian zí: stench; bile; bitter.
  • Sumerian zì: (cf., zíd).
  • Sumerian zìg, zi: n., wall, partition; v., to stand up, rise; to rise up from (with -ta- or -ra-); to go out or make go out; to tear out, uproot; to take out, extract; to spend or credit; to approach (zi-zi in marû); adj., high.
  • Sumerian zil; zi; zé: to undress; to peel off; to pare, cut; to shell.
• Sumerian an: n., sky, heaven; the god An; grain ear/date cluster; v., to be high; adj., high.

• See translation notes above regarding SIPA.ZI.AN.NA (sipa, shepherd + zi, breath, to undress + an-na, god of heaven).
• From www.lexiline.com, "The Loyal Shepherd of Heaven (SIPA.ZI.AN.NA), d.Papsukkal (vizier of the great gods), the messenger of d.Anu and d.Ishtar.    The constellation Orion, SIPA.ZI.AN.NA is equal to GilgaMESH, where d.MASH is a name of Gilgamesh-Mercury, also a name for Ninurta.    MASH, "burn of" GILGA.    GILGA may be the Seven Pleiades."
• KK (+ double genitive [a]k-a[k]).

• Sumerian šìr; šur: n., song; lament; v., to sing.
  • Sumerian šir, sir₄: testicles.
  • Sumerian šér, šír: to shine brightly.
  • Sumerian šèr: n., decision.
• Sumerian nam: (area of) responsibility; destiny, fate, lot, sign; office; governor; province; used as a prefix to form abstract nouns, such as nam-lugal, 'kingship' (abstract prefix + 'king'), nam-mah, 'greatness', or nam-lú-u₁₈-lu₇; nam-lú-ulu₃: people (abstract prefix + 'human being' + 'huge').
  • Sumerian nam-ti: life (abstract prefix + 'to live').
  • Sumerian nam-úš: death (abstract prefix + 'to die').
  • Sumerian nám: understanding.
• Sumerian sipad, sibad, sipa; šuba; sub_2,3: n., shepherd; keeper; v., to pasture, tend (si, 'to keep in order', + bad, 'to let out', or pàd, 'to find').
• Sumerian INANNA - a goddess.
  • As seen earlier in Ursa Major and Dumuzi / Ishtar, we find the Sumerian unug, unu₆ [TEMEN-ÈŠ]: elevated shrine, temple.    In the Early Dynastic-II period (2700-2500 B.C.), from archeological records the city walls were expanded in Uruk (Sumerian unug, or the Biblical Erech) near modern Warka (the same root consonants *'rk with a different vocalization), during this period.    Enmerkar (Emmerkar??) king of Uruk, called en 'lord,' was the first to write on clay tablets and Kullub (Caleb?) has as epithet 'he who build Uruk' known from two epics, with no known inscription or archeological proof of his existence.    The texts refer to commercial and military contacts with a city called Aratta (not yet localized, probably in Iran), where the Sumerian goddess Inanna (later Akkadian Ištar, Ishtar) and (supreme god An) Dumuzi were also worshipped.    Gilgameš (Gilgamesh) is grandson of Enmerkar.    The Assyrian version is in the library of Aššurbanipal (around 650 B.C.) dating to 1700 B.C., and Sumerian fragments dated around 2000 B.C.    The royal dynasty name, Mesannepada, does date to 2600 B.C.
• Sumerian -ka: examples
  • Sumerian sipad-udu-siki-ka: shepherd of wool sheep ('shepherd' + 'sheep' + 'wool' + double genitive).
  • Sumerian lúé-níg-ka: manager of the treasure-house ('man' + 'house' + 'treasure' + double genitive [a]k-a[k]).
  • Sumerian nag-énsi-ka: city ruler beverage ('drink' + 'city ruler' + genitive).